Hauppauge High School Sophomore Reah Vasilakopoulos won a Gold Medal at the 2014 Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair. Vasilakopoulos presented an extensive research paper, titled “The 3n + 1 Algorithm to a judging panel at Suffolk Community College in March and was selected to compete in the final round of the competition at Hofstra University in May. Only 82 Nassau and Suffolk County students advanced to this final round. Vasilakopoulos was one of 20 students to receive a Gold Medal for their research. She previously received a Bronze Medal at the 2013 Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair.
Vasilakopoulos originally selected “The 3n + 1 Algorithm” research project to fulfill an Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry Class requirement. The research topic was beyond anything that Vasilakopoulos previously had learned and required an extensive research time commitment beyond school hours.
Math Teacher Kathleen Maiorini praised Vasilakopoulos’ work stating, "Reah is not only extremely gifted in mathematics, she demonstrates complete confidence and poise. I was extremely impressed with Reah’s work this year, and I’m not at all surprised that the judges agreed and awarded her a Gold Medal.”
